How do you select all objects on all pages in InDesign?

While InDesign's standard "Select All" command targets the objects on the current spread, selecting all objects across all pages of a document requires a different strategy, often involving scripting or specific workflow techniques.

Understanding InDesign's "Select All" on a Spread

In Adobe InDesign, the Edit > Select All command is designed to select all editable objects within your current working view. This command allows you to select or deselect all objects on the active spread and its pasteboard, depending on which tool is active and what is already selected.

To utilize this feature:

Navigate to the desired spread: Open the page or spread where you want to select all objects.
Choose the command: Go to Edit > Select All.
Keyboard Shortcut: Alternatively, use the convenient keyboard shortcut:
- Windows: Ctrl + A
- macOS: Cmd + A

Note: Double-clicking an object allows you to switch between selecting the object's containing frame and the content or object itself.

Selecting All Objects Across All Pages in InDesign

InDesign does not have a single menu command that directly selects all objects across every page in an entire document. This is by design, as managing thousands of selected objects simultaneously could lead to performance issues and unintended modifications. However, there are effective methods to achieve this for specific purposes.

1. Utilizing Layers for Global Selection

If your document is well-organized with layers, you can select all objects on a specific layer across all pages. This is particularly useful if you need to modify all instances of a certain type of object (e.g., all text boxes or all images) placed on a dedicated layer.

Open the Layers Panel: Go to Window > Layers.
Select the Layer: In the Layers panel, click the square selection indicator box located to the right of the layer name. This will select all objects on that layer throughout the entire document.
Perform Actions: Once selected, you can move, resize, change attributes, or delete all objects on that layer.

2. Scripting for Comprehensive Selection

For truly selecting all objects on all pages, especially in complex documents or for repetitive tasks, scripting is the most powerful and flexible solution. InDesign supports JavaScript, AppleScript, and VBScript. A simple script can iterate through all pages and select objects.

How it Works (Conceptually): A script would typically loop through each page in the document, and for each page, it would execute a "Select All" command or iterate through all page items programmatically, adding them to a selection.
Accessing Scripts: You can access the Scripts panel via Window > Utilities > Scripts.
Learning More: For specific script examples and development, refer to Adobe's InDesign scripting resources, such as the InDesign Scripting Guide (requires navigating to the specific SDK version).

3. Manual Iteration (Less Efficient)

For smaller documents or specific needs, you can manually go page by page and use the Edit > Select All command on each spread.

Go to Page 1: Navigate to the first page of your document.
Select All: Use Edit > Select All (Ctrl/Cmd + A).
Perform Action: Make your desired changes.
Repeat: Move to the next page and repeat the process until all pages are covered.

Comparison of Methods

Method	Scope	Efficiency	Best For	Considerations
`Edit > Select All`	Current Spread & Pasteboard	High	Quick selection on a single spread	Does not apply to all pages automatically.
Layers Panel	All objects on a specific layer, all pages	High	Modifying specific types of content across the document	Requires good layer organization; only selects objects on one layer.
Scripting	All objects on all pages	Very High	Automating complex tasks, large documents, precise control	Requires scripting knowledge or pre-made scripts.
Manual Iteration	All objects on all pages (sequentially)	Low	Small documents, one-time simple changes	Time-consuming for large documents; prone to errors.

Important Considerations

When working with selections in InDesign, especially across multiple pages, keep the following in mind:

Locked Objects: Objects that are locked (Object > Lock) will not be selected by Edit > Select All or by layer selection. You must unlock them first (Object > Unlock All on Spread or Object > Unlock All on Layer).
Hidden Objects: Objects on hidden layers will not be selected.
Master Page Items: Objects on master pages are not selected unless you override them on a document page.
Selection Tools: The active tool can influence what is selected. The Selection tool (black arrow) typically selects frames, while the Direct Selection tool (white arrow) selects paths or content within frames.

By understanding the scope of InDesign's selection tools and leveraging layers or scripting, you can effectively manage and select objects across your entire document.